CHAPTER NINE
The werewolves screamed in agony, as they were bound to iron pillars deep beneath the castle—chains etched with ancient runes biting into flesh that refused to heal. The air in the chamber was thick with blood, damp stone, and the sharp bitterness of wolfbane burned into the floor.
Roan leaned casually against the wall, arms folded, smile easy—but his eyes were sharp, calculating. Kael stood opposite him, still as carved obsidian, arms crossed behind his back, posture rigid with discipline.
Three werewolves knelt before them, two hanged from the bearing chains.
Their heads were lowered. Jaws clenched, in stubborn refusal.
Kael's voice cut through the chamber, cold and precise.
"Who let you through the palace wards?"
Silence.
Roan crouched before one of them, tilting his head. "You know," he said lightly, "suffering lasts longer when you're stubborn."
The werewolf's lip curled. "Do your worst, demon." One of them said, he was bigger, and they could already guess, he was a beta.
"We're Oath bound,so don't waste your time, and energy trying, if we died, more will come, and your as demons, will be over"
"Is this a revolution?", roan asked, voice laced with sarcasm.
Neither Kael nor Roan tried arguing about the comments on Demons falling, Prince Damiel will never let them win, and the werewolves where too prideful, and eager to actually beat them.
"Let's see how long you'll hold out to the silver and wolfbane". Kael said coldly as they turned to leave.
Damiel listened without interruption.
He stood calmly at the balcony, his eyes not leaving the view of the garden below, his hands behind him as he listened to their reports.
"They are betas, oath bound" Kael said, dropping to one knee. "They won't betray their pack. Whoever sent them knew that."
Damiel smirked.
"I expected as much."
" What should we do with them, kael asked,
"We wait, they are baits for something bigger", damiel said as he turned towards them, "whoever let them in, wouldn't take chances, they must know already, that they didn't succeed", Kael and Roan looked at each other and back at Damiel, as always he was always one step ahead of them.
"You and Roan are to be stationed at the post, be on the low and quiet", Damiel said, as they both chorused,
"Yes, Commander", with a bow.
Roan usual goofy self was serious and thoughtful.
Damiel noticed immediately.
"Speak," Damiel said to Roan.
"Was it that obvious", He asked as both Damiel and Kael responded with a
"Yes, they said, voice cold, face calm.
Roan shifted. "It's… about the human."
Kael's head snapped up, curiosity flickering across his otherwise controlled expression.
Damiel attention was fully on Roan now,
"She doesn't think," Roan said slowly. "Or rather—she does, but it's… blocked. I can't hear her the way I hear other humans."
Damiel's fingers tapped once against the stone railings
"Interesting," he murmured.
Kael frowned. "That's impossible."
Damiel leaned back slightly, silver eyes gleaming.
He didn't say anything but he was calculating and assessing, his interest piqued,
"You're interested", Kael asked, with a hint of surprise,
"I like puzzles, and she is an interesting one", Damiel had simply replied.
Roan blinked "Is it normal?, she looked pretty human, infact too human"
Kael gaze sharpened, assessing every possibility if she was a threat.
"We'll watch and see?," Damiel replied, smirk returning.
"Keep the werewolves alive. Guarded. Watched." His voice sharpened. "Whoever let them in will know they've failed. And I don't believe this castle is entirely free of traitors." Damiel concluded with instructions.
Roan and Kael bowed deeply. "As you command."
KITCHEN
Reyna was almost done eating when suddenly, a bell rang.
She nearly dropped her bowl.
The sharp, resonant sound echoed through the kitchen, ancient and commanding—gold striking gold.
Instantly, the entire room shifted.
Demons moved with purpose. Orders were given. Fires were stoked higher. Plates of gold were drawn from locked cabinets. Inez's voice cut cleanly through the chaos, precise and absolute.
Reyna sat frozen.
A golden tray was placed on the counter before her—laden with rich meats, dark bread, spiced porridge, roasted fruits glazed with honey. Every plate was gold. Every cup etched with sigils.
How rich is he? she wondered.
Behind her, voices rose, an argument broke out.
"I served him last night," snarled one demon maid.
"And I served him this morning," another snapped back.
The first—Vaelith, the same girl who had made the comment earlier, when she walked into the kitchen, ancient and sharp-eyed—turned, gaze locking onto Reyna. "With all due respect, High Steward… isn't this the duty of the new human slave?"
The second—Serapha—smiled thinly, seemingly understanding where vaelith was heading. "It would only be proper."
Murmurs of agreement spread, as they all agreed.
Reyna's chest tightened.
Inez reached for the tray herself.
Panic seized the room, especially Reyna, hers was more obvious.
Before she could think, she stepped forward. "I—I'll do it."
Silence.
The bell rang again.
Sharper. Louder.
Every demon froze.
Inez studied Reyna, then slowly handed her the tray, hesitating. "Follow me."
They moved through torchlit halls, up wide stone stairs worn smooth by centuries of passage. The air grew colder. Quieter.
At the top, Inez stopped.
"Last door on the left," she said calmly. "And when you serve him, do not stare. Look down."
Reyna nodded, as Inez walked back towards the kitchen.
Kael and Roan emerged from the hall ahead.
She recognized them instantly.
Halfway through the hallway, they crossed path as Reyna bowed as she passed by, head lowered.
They didn't notice.
Kael's was too busy trying to hear her thoughts, and Roan was too busy, trying to listen for anything, theirs eyes lingered on her a moment longer, as they looked at each other and walked away.
Still nothing, both, couldn't hear anything
Reyna reached Prince Damiel door, as she raised her hand to knock, suddenly, damiel voice called out to her, before she could reach for the door.
"Come in."
Reyna opened the door and walked in,
His chamber was vast.
Black stone walls etched with silver veins. Tall pillars carved with ancient runes. A wide balcony stood open, moonlight spilling in like liquid steel.
Damiel stood there, back to her, cloak draped loosely, posture relaxed yet lethal. His silver hair flowed back as it caught the moonlight.
She set the tray carefully, as she arranged the dishes, and cutlery, in precise order, hands trembling.
She looked up as she saw him, still standing there, his posture unchanging, wondering if she should tell him, she was done, or just leave, after a moment of hesitation she turned to leave.
As she turned towards the door—
He was suddenly there, in front of her.
Close,
Too close.
She gasped, as she stepped back hurriedly, and bowed her head, which for some reason annoyed him.
"Were you not told," he said calmly, "that you do not leave unless dismissed?"
"I—I'm sorry, Your Highness."
He walked past her, unhurried, and sat.
Reyna stood beside him, close enough to attend to him quickly, and far enough to breath.
He took a few bites of the food, unlike humans,demons didn't eat for strength,but for pleasure, damiel stood up as he was done, he turned towards her, as she moved back head bowed, hands placed in front of her, clasped together,
Damiel didn't know which annoyed him more her refusal to look at him, or her moving away from him at the slightest contact.
"From now on you are MY personal slave", as if stating clearly she was his and his alone, he said after a moment. "and don't ever delay, when I call, no matter where you are, I'll forgive your lateness today, since it's your first day, but, I won't be lenient next time."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"And" he drawled irritation laced his voice,"look at me, when I talk to you."
Her head snapped up, immediately.
Silver met blue.
For a moment, the world held its breath.
Then he turned away.
"You may go." he said walking towards the balcony.
Reyna quickly,and carefully,packed the dishes, and places in the tray, as she hurried out.
Walking down the stairs, she tried to calm her beating heart, damiel eyes were like magnets, drawing her despite her refusal, and fear.
Reyna got to the door of the kitchen, and was about to push it open when she heard, voices inside.
"She should know her place." Vaelith said.
"This is no place for humans." Serapha said.
She heard the quiet approval from the other servants,
Reyna pushed the door open.
Shock, turned into anger.
Inez smiled in relief.
And Reyna finally understood.
In Avalon—
As much as she had to be careful of Prince Damiel,she alo had to watch her back from a this demons servants.